This collection consists of a number of videotapes and some text material collected by Professor Mark Maier that deals with
the NASA Challenger disaster and its aftermath.

Background

The NASA Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986 when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds
into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. Disintegration of the entire vehicle began after an O-ring
seal in its right solid rocket booster failed at liftoff. The disaster resulted in the formation of the Rogers Commission,
a special commission appointed by United States President Ronald Reagan to investigate the accident. The Presidential Commission
found that NASA's organizational culture and decision-making processes had been a key contributing factor to the accident.
NASA managers had known that contractor Morton Thiokol's design of the solid rocket boosters contained a potentially catastrophic
flaw in the O-rings, but they failed to address it properly. They also disregarded warnings from engineers about the dangers
of launching posed by the low temperatures of that morning.

Extent

8.8 Linear feet
(4 file boxes, 1 document box, 1 flat box)

Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.